"Yeah, I think we do," said Kimmel. "I mean, really, there are six shows nominated, there are only about 10 talk shows so, really, if you don't get nominated, they're telling you, 'you're in the bottom four.' I'd like to think we're at least in the middle of the pack somewhere."

Nominated along with "Jimmy Kimmel Live" is "The Colbert Report," "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" -- which has won the past nine years -- "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon," "Real Time with Bill Maher" and "Saturday Night Live."

"I would have been really mad if they rousted me out of bed and I didn't get nominated," he said. "But I didn't expect to get nominated because I never got nominated. I don't know what happened. Something -- maybe they felt sorry for me."

Kimmel is not only a nominee; he'll also be hosting the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards show, and the man producing it loves that Kimmel can role with the punches.

"As a producer, you really want a host that wants to be there, that can be irreverent and have fun with television and the season and all that. but underneath it, there's a respect for television," said Don Mischer. "And Jimmy's just been getting better and better and better, and I think it's his time."

The 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony is set to air live from L.A. Live's Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. PT on ABC.